UNA Star Xavier Johnson Dominates FCS Leaderboard with Historic UAC Honors

North Alabama’s transition to its new on-campus home at Bank Independent Stadium couldn’t have gone better, thanks in large part to the explosive play of Xavier Johnson. The wide receiver was officially named the United Athletic Conference (UAC) Freshman of the Week on Monday, marking his third time receiving the honor in just four weeks. Johnson becomes the first player in UNA history to capture the award three times within the first four games of a season.

Johnson’s latest accolade comes on the heels of the Lions’ 38-20 triumph over Alcorn State last Saturday. In the program’s first true on-campus home game, the Memphis transfer put on a clinic, racking up a team-high 161 total yards of offense. His highlight reel grew in the second half when he broke loose for a massive 75-yard touchdown run with five minutes remaining, effectively sealing the victory for the Lions.

The redshirt freshman hauled in five catches for 86 yards during the win, maintaining a remarkable streak of at least 80 receiving yards in every contest this season. His consistency has placed him at the very top of the FCS rankings; with 472 yards on 24 catches and two touchdowns, Johnson currently leads the entire subdivision in receiving yardage. In the broader Division I landscape, he trails only Oregon State’s Jesse Legree, who holds 476 yards.

As North Alabama (2-2) prepares for their next challenge, Johnson remains the focal point of a surging offense. The Lions are set to host Western Illinois this Saturday for their second consecutive game at Bank Independent Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m., and the matchup will be available for streaming on ESPN+.